Cars and people travel on a plane. Accidents and congestion cannot be avoided. Secure driverless driving is not possible in the foreseeable future.

Did you know that one of 15 people is seriously injured in Germany in the course of life due to car accident, and that according to the World Health Organization (WHO) annually 1.2 million casualties and 20 to 50 million are seriously injured worldwide due to traffic accidents. It suggests, if nothing changes, the death toll of traffic accidents will increase by more than 60 percent by the year 2020.

Because of the required adhesion, it is not possible to eliminate the noise of the tire altogether. Noise puts people on alarm and triggers stress which causes illness.

On average cars are used only for one hour a day. The material consumption for the production is very high compared to the benefits.

Sharing cars is hardly possible, since the free vehicles cannot be accommodated without driver to new locations.

In the future everyone wants to drive comfortably. Presently there are already about 900 million cars worldwide, and the earth cannot sustain an additional 2 to 3 billion cars. Here, only a change of system will solve the problems. The technology is already there. Driverless fully automated transport systems such as PRT (Personal Rapid Transport, also called Podcar) have many advantages in comparison to the car. However, the existing designs have a number of disadvantages, e.g. they fail at bypassing blocked tracks especially when blockages last for a long time, and the passengers cannot get off. Also the stops are far away from each other. These problems are solved by the transport system "Personal Overhead Rapid Transit, PORT", as described further below:

PORT

The cabins can be lowered to ground level allowing passengers to embark or disembark easily at any point of the track by means of the suspension gear.

For installing permanent stops the suspension gear is designed in a way that a short side rail at a small distance to the main rail is sufficient. This means that many stops are made possible even in front of each house.

In case of incidents the vehicles can go backwards and change to bypass tracks.

A vehicle may be lowered anywhere and disengage its suspension gear powered by small built-in battery allowing for free passage on the track.

In any case independent and redundant components allow for the evacuation of the vehicle and opening the track.

In case of malfunctioning a following vehicle can take over by remote controlled radio signals to send it down to the ground or to guide it to a parking track.

Vehicles parked overhead at in the parking tracks. The ground area is kept free for people, animals and plants.

All actions are computer controlled and monitored using sensors and cameras.

Implementation

Motorway hard shoulders are very suitable and convenient for the transport of goods to and from industrial areas. It can also be used for transporting people along the highways.

Comparison of the Systems

PORT

Disadvantages

Initial investments: The rail system must be built, but no investments necessary for railway stations.

Vandalism: It can be prevented for the most part by using cameras.

Advantages

No emissions: The vehicles are powered by electricity which could be generated with renewable energy. There is hardly any noise, no fumes and no dust.

No accidents: Accidents are most unlikely due to several redundant safety systems. The cabins run without crossing other traffic at the same level. Computers monitor all actions with the help of sensors and cameras.

No traffic jams: All rides are controlled automatically by computer. The system ‘knows’ the position of all vehicles and their schedules. Since there are anywhere (almost at every house) stops, one can disembark at stops before or after a destination stop when it is busy. Empty vehicles do not stay long at a stop, but continue to parking tracks. In case of a sudden congestion, the vehicles can automatically go back and take bypass routes.

Individual use: Like a car one uses the vehicle individually. Up to four people can ride together in one cabin.

Space-consumption: The ground is free for people, animals and plants.

No more refueling: Refueling or charging the batteries like for electric cars will no longer exist. Petrol stations are a thing of the past.

No fatalities and injuries: Finally, no humans or animals become victims of traffic accidents.

Modes of use: Children, elderly and disabled people can use the system without an accompanying person.

No parking problems: One can embark or disembark almost anywhere along the track. The vehicles are parked overhead at designated parking rails.

Low material consumption: Compared to private cars only about one third of the number of vehicles are needed to cope with the demand of transport even during peak hours. In addition, the vehicles are much lighter because they do not use their own internal combustion engines or heavy batteries.

Low power consumption: PORT can be made very aerodynamic and quite light weight. Also the friction of rubber tires on metal is lower than rubber on asphalt.

Driving at all weather conditions: The design of the rails, closed on the upper part, keeps the track always free of water, ice and snow, so no slipping.

Automated handling of goods: Postal and other goods can be sent automatically to and from consumers, markets and factories. Delivery times can be programmed (no need for exactly).

Short waiting times: Vehicles are automatically distributed within the system, to ensure that there are always free vehicles available.

Available everywhere: Almost in front of every house there is a possibility to get on or off. Other than for passenger cars one can use the PORT for one route and return on foot or by bicycle.

No traffic police and road signs: No errors are possible.

Inspection and repair: The vehicles will be continuously monitored by sensors and cameras automatically. By automated routines the vehicles are sent for inspection or repair.

Immediate replacement vehicle: After a breakdown a replacement vehicle will automatically be provided within a short time.

Punctual and straight arrival: No change of cabins, thus, no waiting times.

No car insurance: No more need for car insurance. Car theft is not possible.

Electricity and communication networks: Telephone, internet and electricity networks for homes are installed inside the tracks.

Solar power: It can be generated at very low cost on top of the track.

Accidents and congestion: Every year there are more than one million deaths and millions of serious injuries. The reported congestion hours on the motorways in Germany amounted to a total of 200 thousand hours per year.

Excessive Costs: In average driving a car is used for only an hour per day. The cost of vehicle purchase, registration, car insurance, driver's license, traffic police, tire changes, parking fees, safety tests, workshop visits, auto club membership, road signs and traffic signals, maintenance / repair / renovation of roads and bridges, treatment of diseases caused by stress or injuries, deaths, etc. are too high. Not to forget the social costs for treating the technical waste and the contribution to emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere caused by the individualized traffic with cars.

Waste of time: You have to concentrate on driving and cannot do anything meaningful.

Dependence on oil: Oil is a finite resource, so it is often a means of political pressure, the cause of many wars, and in the oil-producing countries human rights are violated.

Advantages

Individual use: Cars are always and everywhere also for shorter trips without transfers available.

Electric Car

Disadvantages

Noise emissions: The noise from tires cannot be solved from a technical and economic aspects.

Accidents and congestion: See "Cars with internal combustion engine"

Excessive Costs: Costs are very high like for cars with internal combustion engine. The energy density of batteries is too low, and therefore they are too large and heavy. The modern and more powerful batteries are made of expensive metals and rare earths. It is doubtful that the battery problem can be solved at economically for billions of electric cars.

Waste of time: See "Cars with internal combustion engine"

Advantages

Individual Use: See "Cars with internal combustion engine"

No exhaust fumes and dust: There is only dust of tire wear.

Bus & Train

Disadvantages

No individual use: You can only access at bus stops / train stations. On hot or cold days or with heavy luggage no one would like to walk hundreds of meters to a bus stop /railway station, or to wait minutes for a bus or a train because a comprehensive traffic is not possible. Public transport system with sufficient coverage is not available.

Changing trains: Without changing trains or buses one seldom gets to the destination. Timetables must be strictly observed.

Advantages

Sometimes stress-free trips: You can enjoy views, relax, read, ...

Low material consumption: The vehicles are used for years and can move many passengers at once.

Low energy consumption: Energy consumption per passenger is minimal.

PRT (Personal Rapid Transit)

Disadvantages

Initial investments: The rail system plus stations must be built.

Vandalism: It can be avoided for the most part using cameras.

Evacuation in case of breakdown: In the event of a break-down you cannot get the passengers easily off the train, and the track is blocked for a long time.

Large distances between stops: Embarking or disembarking is possible only at the stops /stations of the buses / trains. The construction and maintenance of bus stops and railway stations is an additional cost factor. In addition they also need much space.

Advantages

Some advantages like PORT: No emissions, no accidents, individual use, small footprint, no refueling, no more deaths and injuries, use of license free, stress-free driving, no parking problems, low material consumption, low energy consumption, driving in all weather, automatic goods transport, short waiting times, available everywhere, no traffic police and traffic signs, auto repair and inspection, immediate replacement vehicle, arrive to the minute and directly, no car insurance, electricity and communications networks in the rail, solar power systems for suspended systems

Characteristics of transport of the future

No emissions such as noise and exhaust

No accidents with people

No accidents between vehicles

No traffic jams

Individual Use

Available Everywhere

Leader-less driving

Immediate and safe evacuation in case of technical problems

Reduce cost and resource-conserving

To ensure that no accidents happen with people, vehicles must cross the street, and so there are no accidents between vehicles, the vehicles computer controlled ride on rails. Cars and electric cars can then be no transportation of the future.

In rail vehicles, which run on the track, there is no way to evacuate. Also, the rail is blocked for several hours. Then the vehicles to hang from a bar.

A rail system with a vehicle that can come down with technical problems and you can get almost anywhere in front of each house is on or the transport system of the future.

PORT together with public slow-moving electric cars and Velomobiles have the above characteristics, and therefore the transport system of the future.